Scams often work by creating a sense of urgency, fear, or excitement so you feel pressured to act quickly. A message may look like it came from your bank, a government agency, a company you know, or even someone in your family.
If something feels unusual or you are not sure whether a request is legitimate, the safest thing you can do is stop before taking action. Don’t click, send money, share personal information, or allow access to your computer until you have had a chance to verify what is happening.
Stop and Don’t Act Yet
If something feels suspicious, the most important thing is to slow down. Scammers often try to create pressure by telling you that something bad will happen unless you act immediately.
Do not click links, open unexpected attachments, send money, purchase gift cards, share passwords or security codes, or install software on your computer because someone asked you to.
If you are on the phone, it is okay to hang up. If you received a text or email, leave it alone while you check whether the request is legitimate.
A genuine company, bank, or government agency will not object to you taking the time to verify who you are dealing with.
Check the Message or Request Independently
Don’t use the phone number, website link, or contact information provided in the suspicious message. Instead, find the organization’s contact information yourself.
For example, if someone claims to be calling from your bank, hang up and call the number printed on the back of your bank card. If an email appears to come from a company you use, open your browser and go to the company’s website directly instead of clicking the link in the message.
If the request supposedly came from a family member or friend, contact that person using a phone number you already know.
Verifying the request independently takes a little more time, but it is one of the most effective ways to avoid being tricked by a scam.
Watch for Common Warning Signs
Scams can take many forms, but they often use the same kinds of pressure and warning signs.
Be cautious if someone:
- says you must act immediately or something bad will happen
- asks you to keep the situation secret
- requests payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or another unusual method
- asks for your password, PIN, security code, or one-time verification code
- wants you to install software or give them remote access to your computer
- claims you have won a prize but must pay a fee first
- says a family member is in trouble and needs money urgently
- threatens arrest, account closure, service disconnection, or other consequences unless you pay
One warning sign does not automatically mean something is a scam, but several of them together are a strong reason to stop and verify the situation before doing anything else.
If You Already Responded
If you clicked a link, shared information, sent money, or allowed someone access to your computer, act as quickly as you can.
What you should do depends on what happened:
- If you shared a password: change it immediately, and change it anywhere else you used the same password.
- If you shared banking or credit card information: contact your bank or card issuer using the official number on your card or statement.
- If you sent money: contact the bank, payment service, or financial institution involved as soon as possible and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or reversed.
- If you gave an unknown or suspicious person remote access to your computer: disconnect the computer from the internet, end the remote session if possible, and have the computer checked before using it for sensitive activities.
- If you provided personal information: watch your accounts closely and consider contacting the appropriate organizations if there is a risk of identity theft.
Keep copies of suspicious emails, text messages, receipts, phone numbers, and any other information connected to what happened. Those details may be useful if you need to report the scam or dispute a transaction.
When You’re Not Sure, Ask
You do not have to make the decision alone. If something feels suspicious, confusing, or simply does not seem right, ask someone you trust before taking action.
A second opinion can help you spot warning signs that are easy to miss when you are feeling rushed or worried.
If you are a member of Scam Protection, you can contact us before you click, answer, pay, or provide information. We can help you review what happened and decide on the safest next step.
Even if you are not a member, taking a few extra minutes to stop and ask for help can prevent a much bigger problem later.
Before you click. Before you answer. Before you pay. Before you panic.
